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A's edged after solid Straily start, brief rally

Dan Straily emerged during Oakland's 2012 division title run by posting a 11.25 K/9 rate, and will compete for a rotation spot this spring

By T.R. Sullivan
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MLB.com |

SURPRISE, Ariz. -- Rangers starter Nick Tepesch continued his long-shot bid for the fifth-starter spot by holding the Athletics to one run over three innings on Saturday afternoon, when Texas managed a 4-3 victory at Surprise Stadium.

Tepesch had the early edge over A's starter Dan Straily, who allowed two runs in three innings. One of the runs was unearned as Straily allowed three hits, a walk and three strikeouts.

Tepesch retired eight of the first nine batters he faced before running into trouble with two outs in the third. The A's scored a run on an RBI a single by Jed Lowrie after a single by Coco Crisp and a walk to Chris Young. Tepesch then walked Yoenis Cespedes to load the bases, but he struck out Brandon Moss to end the inning.

Tepesch threw 59 pitches, including 37 in the third inning, and allowed three hits, two walks and three strikeouts. He has a 2.25 ERA on the spring and opponents are hitting .233 off him. In eight innings, Tepesch has two walks and eight strikeouts.

"I felt like I didn't have my best stuff, but I competed," Tepesch said. "I just tried to attack hitters and go after them. I felt like it was a pretty good day overall."

Straily had trouble in the second inning, when he gave up leadoff singles to David Murphy and A.J. Pierzynski. After Aaron Cunningham bunted the runners to second and third, Leonys Martin lined a single to left that skipped past Cespedes, allowing both runners to score. Straily then retired the last seven batters he faced on the cool afternoon.

"I thought it went well, I felt relaxed and in control," Straily said. "It was the first time I really felt like myself out there. I was able to make a few pitches, too. It was good."

The Rangers led, 2-1, into the seventh, but Shane Peterson put the Athletics ahead with a two-run single off of reliever Colin Balester. Brandon Snyder then tied it with his first home run of the spring in the bottom of the inning, and the Rangers went ahead on a run-scoring single by Minor League catcher Jake Skole.

Up next: Left-hander Brett Anderson will be on the mound for the A's on Sunday at 1:05 p.m. PT, when they host the D-backs at Phoenix Municipal Stadium. Anderson has made just one start this season, pitching two scoreless innings. He also started against Team Italy in an exhibition game and pitched three scoreless innings. Josh Reddick will also be in the lineup after getting a day off on Saturday.